Generation of steam-power



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O. O. PEOK. GENERATION 0E STEAM POWER. No. 479,454. Patented July 26,1892.

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G. 0. PEGK.

. GENERATION 0F STEAM POWER. No. 479,454. Patented July 26, 1892.

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0. O. PEGK.

GENERATION 0F STEAM POWER. No; 479,454. Patented July 26, 1892.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CASSIUS C. PEOK, OF WARSAlV, NEW YORK.

GENERATION OF STEAM-POWER.

$PECIFICA'1ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,454, dated July26, 1892.

Application filed October 26, 1891. Serial No. 409,817. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OASSIUS O. PEOK, a citizen of the United States,residing at WVarsaw, in the county of Wyoming and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Generation ofSteam- Power, of which the following is a specification sufficienttoenable others skilled in the art to which the invention appertains touse the same.

My invention relates especially to systems and apparatus in whichsurface condensers are used in conjunction with the engines, the waterof condensation being returned to the boiler.

I am fully aware that heaters have heretofore been arranged to purifyfeed-water by bringing it in direct contact with live steam from theboiler, and I do not seek to cover the direct use of live steam in thisconnection, broadly. I am also aware that nearly all engines havefeed-water heaters attached for utilizing the exhaust-steam, and that insome cases the water of condensation formed in the heaters is added tothe feed-water; but these old contrivances do not anticipate myinvention, and, in fact, I expressly avoid and disclaim the feature ofcombining the fresh water with the water of condensation, as well as allidea of purifying the water returned to the boiler, an essential featureof my invention being the return of practically all the steam of theboiler by its condensation in a surface condenser and the heating of thewater of condensation to practically the same temperature as that of thewater in the boiler preparatory to adding it thereto. Since thefeed-water required for a boiler would serve ordinarily to condense onlyfrom one-sixth to one-fifth of the weight of steam generated in theboiler, (provided the feed-water were cold to start with,) it followsthat five-sixths of the water to be pumped into the boiler would have tobe fresh water, requiring purification, as in devices heretofore known,in which the purification of the fresh feed-water is the object soughtto be obtained.

In my improved system of generating steam no'provision is made ordesigned for-heating 5 fresh feed-Water, the invention relating solelyto the reheating of the water of condensation from the surface condenserin such manner as to attain the greatest efficiency with the leastexpenditure of heat.

I employ a surface condenser requiring about twenty-five pounds of coolcondensingwater for every pound of steam to be condensed. Theintroduction of fresh feed-Water into my system would soon impair theresults and soon render the apparatus inoperative by reason ofincrustation, and, on the other hand, the object of my invention cannotbe attained by the use of the apparatus heretofore known and designedfor the purification of fresh feed-water. It will thus be seen that myinvention is limited to and restricted 1 by the use of a surfacecondenser in conjunction with means for heating the water ofcondensation therefrom up to the temperature of the water in the boilerby the use of live steam derived directly therefrom.

Heretofore where surface condensers have been employed, as 'with marineengines, in connection with which they are practically indispensable,the water of condensation has been pumped directly from the surfacecondenser, or the hot-well into which it flows from the condenser, intothe boiler at a temperature of, say, about 120 Fahrenheit. Theboiling-point of water in the boiler being determined by the pressure ofsteam carried, it follows that the water of condensation thus deliveredinto the boiler cannot boil until heated to the temperaturecorresponding with the pressure. Thus when water at 120 Fahrenheit ispumped into aboiler carrying, say, one hundred and sixty pounds ofsteam-pressure it cannot boil until heated to 370 Fahrenheit, or 250degrees above that at which it is introduced into the boiler. When thuspumped into the boiler, the water of condensation gradually mingles withthe boilerwater, reducing the temperature of the latter below theboiling-point and checking evaporation until the resulting admixture ofboiler-water and water of condensation is again heated to theboiling-point. The water in the boiler is expanded by the heat, becominglighter and more limpid, so that its particles move more freely amongthemselves, thus creating a more rapid circulation. As the temperaturerises the internal currents by which the heat is carried off from theheat ing-surfaces become more rapid, and correspondingly more heat iscarried away from able to maintain the whole body of water in the boilerin a continuous state of ebullition in order to attain and maintain themost effective conditions, since heat can be transmitted to the water atabout three times the rapidity while evaporation in the form of boilingis going on, as compared with the same water While being heated to theboiling-point.

My invention consists, essentially, in condensing practically all theexhaust-steam after it has performed its work in the engine in a surfacecondenser in which condensation is effected by an independent supply ofcondensing liquid separated from and having no connection with the steamor water of condensation, and then reheating the water of condensationfrom the surface condenser to or approximating the temperature of thewater in the boiler preparatory to its introduction into the latter bymeans of live steam taken directly from the boiler, the water ofcondensation from the live steam being also returned directly to theboiler, so that in operation a perfectly-uniform unvarying temperatureis maintained within the boiler and the generation of steam iscontinuous and uuvaryiug and not subject to the fluctuations orinterruptions that would otherwise be occasioned by the return of thewater of condensation. It may not at first thought seem that there canbe any gain in this procedure, as compared with the old method ofpumping the water of condensation directly into the boiler; but I havediscovered and demonstrated that by my method of equalizing or nearlyequalizing the temperature of the boiler-water and water of condensationprior to uniting them in the boiler I am enabled to materially augmentthe amount of evaporation which can be effected in said boiler. In otherwords, Iincrease the eiliciency of the boiler with respect to the amountof heat which it will transmit to the water contained therein. In orderto realize the value and importance of this feature of raising thetemperature of the water of condensation prior to its incorporation withthat in the boiler, it must be understood that the gain in thetransmission of heat, hereinbefore intimated, is equivalent to aboutthree to onethat is to say, heat can be transmitted to water at aboutthree times the rapidity while evaporation in the form of boiling isgoing on as compared with water which is being heated up to theboilingpoint. This is equivalent to saying that a boiler should not beused to heat the water of condensation directly by the injection of thewater of condensation into the boiler-water, since a given amount ofboiler-surface is worth about three times as much for evaporation as forheating. There is also a further important feature worthy ofconsideration, which contributes largely to the efficiency of myinvention, and that is the fact that the independent heater for thewater of condensation will not require as much surface as the boiler totransmita given amount of heat, since the boiler-surfaces are heated bydirect contact with the products of combustion, while the heaterreceives its supply of heat by steam from the boiler, the steamheatedsurfaces being nearly three times as effective as the gas-heatedsurfaces.

As a result of my invention the amount of boiler-surface for a giveneffective power may be reduced about onefourth, or boilers of a givensize increased proportionately in efficiency-as, for instance, in theease of marine boilers,in which case the steaming capacity of asteamship could be augmented about one-fourth by the employment of mysystem of heating the water of condensation in conjunction with thepresent boilersin use.

An incidentalbnt important advantage attained by my system of equalizingthe temperature of the water of condensation and the boiler-waterpreparatory to mixing them is the increased durability or life of theboiler, owing to the uniformity of temperature and circulationmaintained, thereby obviating unequal expansion and contraction, and theconsequent straining and weakening of the parts. Thus by keeping thewhole body of water in the boiler at nearly equal temperature throughoutI overcome one of the most objectionable causes of injury to boilers,especially to marine boilers and those of large size.

In the accompanying drawings I illustrate three arrangements of partsadapted for use in carrying out my invention, each modifica tionoperating in substantially the same manner in use. I do not confinemyself to any special construction of heater, nor to the ex actarrangement of the parts shown, since it is obvious that variousmodifications maybe made therein without departing from the essentialfeatures of my invention.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation representing diagrammatically thecombination and arrangement of a special form of heater for the water ofcondensation, in conjunction with a condensing-engine and asteam-boiler, pumps, &c.; Fig. 2, a similar view, in which an ordinaryform of steam surface condenser is usedas a heater for the water ofcondensation; Fig. 3, a similar view, in which a horizontal form ofheater is used.

A represents any ordinary or desirable form of steam-boiler supplyingsteam through supply-pipe a, to the steam-engine B. The exhaust-steamfrom the latter is conducted by the pipe I) to the surface condenser 0,provided with hot-well c. From the hot-well 0 the condensed steam isforced by the pump D through the pipe d into the heater E. The heater Eis supplied by pipe f with live steam from the boiler A. In Fig. 2 thesteam enters a compartment 6 in the heater E, through which pass thetubes 6 opening into the end compartments 6 e. The water of condensationenters one of these compartments e and passes through the tubes (2 tothe other 6 from which it is conducted by the pipe e back to the boilerA. During the passage of the Water of condensation through the tubes 6of the heater E it absorbs heat from the steam in the compartment 6,condensing the steam therein, which condensed steam is returned to theboiler through the pipe 6. Checkvalves e e are interposed in the pipes ee.

In Fig. 3 the water of condensation passes from the pipe-d of the heaterE around the pipes 612 and out through the pipe d to the The steam fromthe boiler A enters boiler A. the end compartment a of the heaterthrough the pipe a passes through the pipes (Z is condensed, and entersthe other end compartment (1., from which it is returned by the pipe ato the boiler. Suitable valves 0. a a are interposed in the pipes d, 0.and at.

In Fig. 1, instead of imparting the heat to the water of condensation inthe heater E by surface condensation of steam, as in Figs. 2 and 3, Iinject the steam directly into the body of the water of condensation. Inthis case the water of condensation is forced from the hot-Well c by thepump D, through the pipe (1 into the lower portion of the heater E.

The lower portion of the heater is divided from the upper by aperforated partition f, below which it is filled with gravel, &c., inwhich a perforated steam-chamber f'eis embedded. Live steam is conductedfrom the boiler A by the pipe f to the steam-chamber f, by which it isdistributed radially to the water of condensation, which condenses itand absorbs its excess of heat. The combined water of condensation fromthe hot-well and the steam thus condensed in heating it is then returnedto the boilerA through the medium of pipe g, force-pump G, andinjection-pipe g Steam to operate the pump G may be drawn from the upperpart of the heater E or from the boiler A direct, if preferred; butthere must be somewhat less pressure in heater E to permit steam fromthe boiler to enter the heater. The exhauststeam from the force-pump Gis preferably conducted through the pipe 9 to the condenser C.Regulating-valves are arranged in the pipes g and f WVhat I claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The process herein set forth of attaining increased. efficiency inthe generation of steam, consisting in generating steam of a prescribed,pressure and temperature in a suitable generator, utilizing the energyof the steam in a suitable motor, condensing the exhausted steam by anindependent supply of condensing liquid having no direct contact withthe exhaust-steam or its water of condensation,heating the water ofcondensation thus obtained to or approximating the temperature of thewater remaining in the steamgenerator by means of live steam derivedtherefrom, and returning the said heated water of condensation, togetherwith the steam condensed in equalizing the temperature thereof, back tothe body of water contained in the generator to be reconverted intosteam.

2. The combination of a steam-generatorA, a steam-engine 13, connectedwith and operated by steam from said steam-generator A, a surfacecondenser 0, connected with and arranged to condense the exhaust-steamfrom said steam-engine B by means of an independent supply of condensingliquid having no direct contact with. the steam or water ofcondensation, forcing mechanism D, and pipe connections for transferringthe water of condensation from said surface condenser O to a heater E,said heater E arranged to heat the said water of condensation receivedfrom the surface condenser O to or approximating the temperature of theWater remaining in the steam-generator A by means of live steam deriveddirectly from said steam-generator A, and means for returning the saidwater of condensation and the steam condensed in equalizing thetemperature thereof back to the body of water contained in thesteam-generator A, the several parts being arranged with relation toeach other and operating sub stantially in the manner and for thepurpose described.

OASSIUS O. PEOK.

Witnesses:

L. L. THAYER, WM. E. MONTGOMERY.

